GamesThird Person ShooterHelldivers 2Helldivers 2 players are dousing planets in poison gas that Super Earth says will ‘permanently’ destroy the bugs, but we all know what Joel’s really up toWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

GamesThird Person ShooterHelldivers 2Helldivers 2 players are dousing planets in poison gas that Super Earth says will ‘permanently’ destroy the bugs, but we all know what Joel’s really up toWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

Helldivers 2 termicide tower

At least, that’s our working theory. A potentially war-ending gambit thatperpetuates the warand leads to more Helldivers (who, officially, never die) to die, feels right up Arrowhead’s alley, and “unintentional” mutation sure would be a fun way to canonize thoseflying “Shrieker” bugsCEO Johan Pilestedt insists don’t exist.

Breaking: Helldivers To Permanently Contain Bugs#StrohmannNews pic.twitter.com/QLRQbtQxovMarch 13, 2024

Breaking: Helldivers To Permanently Contain Bugs#StrohmannNews pic.twitter.com/QLRQbtQxovMarch 13, 2024

In fact, the more I learn about Termicide, the more I’m seeing yesterday’s surprise debut of the Shriekers in a whole new light. Didgame master Joelsend Shriekers after a small handful of players as a story beat? It’s strange how so few have encountered their mushroom-shaped nests after over 24 hours. I played for three hours last night under the same conditions and couldn’t find any. Perhaps yesterday’s Shriekers were the first products of the gas, and they’ll start appearing in more player sessions as more Termicide towers go online?

A “Termicide” tower spewing nasty gas after activating it.(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

Helldivers 2 termicide tower

What’s remarkable, and uncommon in an era of live service games, is how often Arrowhead isn’t just telling a story with its updates, but also changing how we play it. Nearly every development in the galactic war has come with some sort of game-changing element: mission types, modifiers, mechs, stratagem access, and now another bug. In a more conventional live operation, these story beats would be directly tied to limited-time cosmetics with goosed-up prices. Instead, Arrowhead’s focus is almost entirely on missions and items free for everyone while it’s hardly said anything about the $10 warbond launching tomorrow.

It’s a refreshing inversion of how I’ve experienced multiplayer games for the better part of a decade, and just one reason Helldivers 2 is keeping my attention during an already stacked 2024.

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The Termicide tower major order is set to conclude on March 19, at which point all the Terminids will be dead and our helldivers can go home to their spouses and 2.5 kids… right? After all, insecticides have always beensafe and predictablethroughout human history, something thisvery apolitical gameno doubt will represent faithfully.

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